Why would we have more trouble unloading Francis than the Celtics did getting rid of Antoine Walker, aside from the fact that Francis isn't a very good playmaker?
MManal - You have to keep the 115% + 100k assigned player exception when trading with another over the cap team (hereafter called APE) and the ~$7m trade exception from the Rice/Amaechi trade (hereafter called TE) seperate when trading for one player. IOW, they can not both be used on one incoming player. From this it follows that there are two ways to trade Francis: 1A - APE > Francis's Rockets outgoing value in this trade will be ~$5.85m (BYC APE value). Assuming the incoming contract is $12m, the Rockets need to dump $6.15m ($12m - $5.85m) in contracts to an under the cap team. 1B - TE > Steve Francis can be traded for his BYC value of $5m plus some portion of the TE not to exceed $12m. Now, once either of these transaction is deemed legit, then the other available exception can be used. Here's an (unrealistic) example using Seattle: TE: Francis @ $5m + $2.0 TE for Rashard Lewis @ $7.0m APE: Mo Taylor and Cuttino Mobley for Ray Allen @ $13.5m. So by virtue of using the TE, the Rockets were able to move approximately $20.5 in contracts. And there is still ~$5m of the TE remaining. Yes, you are correct on both counts. Steve's BYC status expires next summer. Well before the trade exception.
I wish we could get Rashard Lewis for Francis straight up. We could even let Rashard play point guard and he might have better playmaking skills.
T-Mac also doesn't have much talent surrounding him to defer the ball too. Granted the way our stagnant offense as of late has been, he'd for sure get better looks around the perimeter then he would in Orlando. And despite what he says about retiring cuz' of the zone, he's one of the leagues best scorers, and he still shoots a higher % then Francis does despite being the focal point of defenses around the league, whereas Francis atleast has some talent to defer the ball to, although he doesn't even do a consistent good job at doing that. Francis and T-Mac might very well need a change of scenery and this trade would provide them both that.
Steve Francis is one of my most favorite NBA players...but I wouldn't be too surprised if we traded him in the many trade scenarios discussed in this thread..I like the idea of getting Jermaine O'Neal, Nick Van Exel, Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, Tracy McGrady, and others...Chauncey Billups and Mehmet Okur wouldn't be too bad either. I think we need to get a star in return for Francis. Mobley can fit and adapt I think. I love Francis and Yao..but it just isn't working. All the guys that we could get sounds great...but I don't think we'll be trading this starting All Star guard any time. I won't be surprised if we do! I like all the trades except for Charvo's.
This is false. The Spurs just won the championship with one star. The Kings don't even have 1 star on their team right now, until Webber gets back.
If you were the GM of the Magic, would you actually trade top 5 players in the league T-Mac for a Turnover prone, shoot first combo guard? I know I wouldn't.
Question to everyone here proposing trades for Francis. Take it from the perspective of another team knowing what you know about Francis. Would you want Francis, his limited PG abilities, his limited defensive abilities, and if you're going to play him as a SG knowing it means you're very limited in who you can have as a PG, that is you have to have a big, strong defensive type like Snow. Couple that with his high, long term contract. If you are the other team are you going to give up a lot for him? Is his play worth his contract? There's a reason you want to trade him after all. Is he likely to be any better for or more desireable to anybody else? IMO Francis is "damage goods", been in the league to long without adequate progeression and you're not going to get prime material, a star, in return for him.
If the team is completely suckwad with no dominant or wanna-be-dominant center (Eastern Conference), then, yes. Think Knicks, Wizards, Heat, Magic, etc.
I actually think Garbrial would be overjoyed to get a Francis/Mobley combo, considering he is probably going to lose McGrady after this year anyway. He will want to get something in return, if he's smart.
I can't believe there are people that think we could get more than Ray Allen or Elton Brand in return for Fancy. Unless these trades somehow involve kidnapping the opposing GM's children or something, then they are totally rediculous. If anything, we would have to throw in extra incentive with Francis for other teams to think about giving up a player the caliber of a Brand or Allen. I would beg Golden State to trade me Murphy, Johnson, and Dunleavy or Richardson. There is no way we get someone the caliber of Tracy McGrady or Vince Carter for Steve.
LET'S NOT TRADE FRANCIS. Francis is an excellent slasher, an average ball distributor, and miracle-maker when the shot clock is low. We have a (developing) good center, a good slasher, a couple of rebounders, and a bunch of decent to average shooters. We do not have a good distributor. If we trade, let's give up a couple of our shooters for a distributor.
If this was trure, no one would trade for Ricky Davis, Rasheed Wallace, Jalen Rose, Antonio Davis, or Rick Brunson. You guys always ask why other teams would want a player if we don't - and that's absolutely stupid. It's not ok for Steve Francis to play in our system as the PG, but it'sdefinitely possible in... Chicago, Minnesotta, Charlotte, Miami, LA, San Antonio... It's different because these teams have players in other positions that pick up the slack, while we have scorers at other positions AS WELL. We need someone to feed them WAY more often, OR we need to move him and have someone feed HIM.
Depends on your definition of a star. On the Kings, the have ALL STARS in Miller, Peja and Webber. Bibby is on the cusp. So they have some STARs there. The Spurs have Duncan. But he is the MVP. I submit to you that if you have the MVP or close to the MVP that equals TWO star players. PLUS they have players such as Ginobili and Parker that are on the cusp of stardum. Right now the Rockets have 2 players that COULD be stars in Francis and Yao. But right now NEITHER of them are playing like stars. If they did the team obviously would be in much better shape. But I think in the end to get to the next level, the championship level, this team either needs to add a THIRD star player OR have Francis or Yao develop close to MVP level.
I agree with Sane- As Calvin Murphy has said, "Not all teams are for all players" A guy that has become a liability for us could be a stud for another coach in another system.
I think if the McGrady starts to b**** about the direction of the franchise enough, they COULD certainly think about moving him. IF this situation developed a package of SF and Cato could draw their interest. To be honest though I would trade SF for EB in a NY minute. With Yao and EB we could potentially kill teams inside. I would then package a few of our 2 or 3s to try to get a competent PG.
I would suggest that Francis isnt the problem. I would rather trade the players around Yoa and Francis. Get a hard nosed, defensive minded rebounder at power forward. I dont want 20 points from him...all I want is double figure rebounding, intensity and passion. Get a small forward that play good defence. Get a solid, consistent scorer at shooting guard. Someone that doesnt run hot and cold. A guy that can play soilid defence and hit open jumpers. We have a great center and an explosive point guard. We have two players you can build a title winning team around.
